You wanna be a rock superstar?

Big house, 5 cars, the rent charged? I think most guys wanted to be in a band when they were teenagers. I sure did. I grew up listening to Green Day, Rancid, Offspring, and the other OC punk scene bands. I’m a huge fan of Araya of Slayer too – he has mad bass skillz. I tried to pick up the guitar when I was 15. A friend of mine actually taught me how to play Smashing Pumpkin’s Zero (can still memorize the chords) but that’s the limit of my talent.

I thought that I’m just not musically inclined, but with hindsight I realized that I just didn’t put in enough effort. We had a band going in Christchurch (did my high school that year in NZ) but I never got to play coz I’m not good enough. However, I do enjoy the jamming sessions and I’ve always wondered how things would turn out if I really gave it the good ol’ college (or high school) try and kept practising.

This was me back when I was 15. Damn, I look the part right? Very rocking if I may say so myself.

I party like a rock star and I thrash hotel rooms (and my own place) like a rock star too so I think I can pass off as one so long as I’m not holding a guitar.

Yeah, I know a thing or two about thrashing rooms. Heh!

Imagine the groupies you’ll have and the fans throwing their panties at you at your concerts! Think about the ridiculous stuff you can put on your contract rider – M&Ms with all the brown ones taken out, Alaskan King Crab air flown in, Fiji mineral water and all that ludricous crap. ;)

Right. Since I’m a little too old (going to be 29 soon) to be starting a band, I can always pretend – a “what if” scenario:

Band of Brudders allows you to indulge in your rock star fantasies by creating a band with your fans and customizing it. You start at your house and you can change your hair, body, clothes and even shoes (Jeff wears Birkenstocks).

This is not how I actually look like, I’m not that buff, it’s called “artistic liberty”. I also wanted this flaming skull tattoo but I don’t have enough Street Creds so I need to earn more. I’m nearly au natural coz I’m scared and angry, so I went to take a shower (coz that’s what people do when they’re scared and angry). ;)

Okay, all kidding aside, I can be whoever I want to be so I’m donning a hairstyle that would probably get me a warning letter at work.

This is my virtual wardrobe! I can change everything and best of all, it never needs to be dry cleaned and it’ll never crease. I’m sure you all know about my ongoing run-ins with my laundry service. >.<

There is no ‘I’ in band – even Slash can’t form a band solo (although he tried, kinda, sorta, with his album Slash’s Snakepit) so you’ll need to invite two of your most rockin’ friends to join you in your musical endeavor.

Anyway, after all that is done you need to play the guitar, keyboard and drums before you can proceed. Now, this I can do – it’s like Dance Dance Revolution. Believe it or not, I used to play DDR at the arcades. Heh!

Stages are progressively unlocked as you explore the Band of Brudder site – there’s a driving game where you have to pick up your friends (use your Street Creds instead – this is a tough one), mixing your own song (downloadable as an MP3!) and making your music video (downloadable as an AVI!) until you hit the big time.

We not only rock your socks off, we blow your clothes away!

Check out my underwater music video! It’s easy to create an MV – much like Windows Movie Maker, just click and drag. We’re not wearing any clothes since it’s really hard to swim while jamming 30,000 fathoms beneath the ocean. The musical instruments still work though – like I said – artistic license! ;)

Your debut single from Tune Studio and your MTV from Spotlight Film Studio will be rated by all. Try and get to the Top 10!

I currently have 0 votes and 0 views. WTF? Our band very 1Malaysia okay! We have a lead singer who used to have a drug problem (hey, it’s part and parcel of the rocker lifestyle!), one Kadazan female from Sarawak and a local girl! Support a bit, ya. Local artists are never going to make it big without grassroots backing. :)

Oh, and if you’re wondering how to earn Street Creds, it’s by clicking on the Brylcreem deodorants and facial wash!

Check out my Band of Brudders (okay the other two are female – fresh026 and KaYe – but hey, equal rights and all).

I got my first real six string, bought it at the five and a dime. Played it till my fingers bled, it was the summer of ’69.

26 thoughts on “You wanna be a rock superstar?”

eiling: Haha! Yes, I can thrash rooms pretty well too, especially my own place. ;)
Unfortunately, I don’t have a rock star mansion. :S
Yup, that was me doing the reverse mohawk hair back when I was 15. :)

Michelle Chin: Yeah, I have a very colorful past, and my hairstyle reflects that. Even had pink hair and the words Karma II shaved on my head before. :)
Jeff: Heh! Yeah that sounds like an awesome way to live, but unfortunately, a pipe dream for me since I have a full time job. :)

HEY DUDE… happy birth day. what were you doing eight years ago. Me? I was just going back to work, and got to be a supervisor at qc. agin. see, thats called quality control. and dont ever be ashamed. cause thats what you are there for. ( hey… if this fails, we are gonna have to repave it… shut up… Hey… the dvds have exessive jitter, they are gonna artifact… shut up. Hey , that big oraca drug her handler in the pool playing around, killed the handler. well, when you got in the water, you knew the risks, shammo. I am 50 now. but you have been a great help to me. was supposed to be dead at 38. then 45. not aids or any thing communicable. but I went for my drivers test today. No glasses, no contacts, no laser surgery. they asked, what the fuck have you done. ( well, no, they just said wth, this must be wrong and did it again. belive you me. I said I donno. Thanks HB, and I like smashing pumpkins too . take care of your self. Tom . wtf???

tom: My birthday is on the 5th of April, but close enough my friend. :)
8 years ago, I was still in uni in Melbourne, experimenting with lots of stuff.
Yeah, I love Smashing Pumpkin’s Zero, one of my favorite songs from that band.
Good to hear about your drivers license.
Take care buddy! :)
ciki: T_T
A lot of people commented yesterday that they couldn’t recognize me coz I’m grown so fat. I wanna know your secret!!!!
How can you be so slim? :)
Ya, last time damn Ah Beng one. Haha!

fresh: Haha! Not only that, you have a man’s body! :)
Not in real life la, in the band. ;)
Ya, there’s not a lot of improvement in the hair department. I just realized that my hair is still quite tragic now. T_T

I spent last 3 days to start read your blog since somewhere around 2006 =P(lazy to scroll up)
.Nice stories to share with us and Hai Bin,(I hope you wont mind I call you that =P)we share same passion on food ,smoke and alcohol although I am way younger than you =P.I will recommend you nice restaurant near Karak highway(highway go up to Genting)which near to my place aswell.See ya =)

google it for Pan Heong batu caves.Few kilometres from the toll to Genting.Only available when you come down from Genting on morning =)
recommend food -wa tan hor and fish porridge(something like fish fillet)
or you can try chong hwa curry mee at Sri Gombak.Recommend food -curry mee and nasi lemak =) available from morning only =)
For supper/breakfast around 4am-5am I only can recommend you to try out jalan ipoh dim sum or restaurant long grilled fish seafood that serve dai chao and seafood around that hour =P